Kofi Adams optimistic of winning NDC primaries in Buem Constituency
Former National Organiser of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Kofi Adams says he is optimistic of winning the party’s parliamentary primaries to contest the Buem Constituency seat in the upcoming general elections.
Adams, who was once a Deputy General Secretary of the party has a herculean task of unseating the sitting Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, 50-year-old Daniel Kwesi Ashiamah who is serving his second term in Parliament.
If the former NDC National Organiser is able to beat the incumbent MP and the other candidates later in August this year, he is likely to takeover as the people’s representative due to the historical facts associated with the region in which the constituency is located.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) remains the only party to have won that seat since the return to multi-party democracy in 1993.
Mr. Adams told The Ghana Report in an interview that he remains cautiously optimistic as he prepares for the party’s primaries on August 24, 2019. He says the several goodwill messages and inspiration showered on him by constituents gives him the needed optimism ahead of the contest.
“My chances in this primaries are bright based on what I have seen and heard going round. I have gone to every part of the constituency to present my message of hope and development to the delegates and the feedback is very positive.
Campaigning has not been easy for me at all since the people treat me as if I am the sitting MP but nonetheless, my campaign team is doing everything possible to address their concerns,” he said.
The NDC in a statement released recently outlined the timelines for various activities leading to the primaries. The picking of the nomination forms from July 10th to 12th 2019, filing of nomination forms would commence from July 18th to 19th 2019 while vetting of aspirants would be carried out from July 24th to 25th 2019.
Petitions would be received from July 26th to 27th 2019, as well as appeals on July 29th to 31st 2019. The main election in the Volta Region has also been slated for August 24th 2019.
In the directive, all eligible party members who were desirous of contesting the primaries were to pick and complete in triplicate nomination forms from the constituency offices at a non-refundable fee of GH¢ 2,000. Upon submission of the completed forms, male aspirants were required to make a non-refundable deposit of GH¢25, 000, while females and Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) were to pay GH¢ 12,500.
The Regional Executive Committee had also approved Investment Levies of GHC10, 000 for new male entrants and GHC5, 000 for sitting Members of Parliament, current executives of the party at all levels, new female entrants and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).
According to Mr. Adams, he is preparing to file his nomination when nominations open as has been directed by the party leadership.